Improvement in ditching-machines



Ntra STATES ,ArnNT 'rricia *i vHENRY C. INGRAHAM, OF TEC'UMSEH, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN DiTCHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 72,399, dated December 17, 1867.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HENRY C. INGRAHAM, of Tecumseh, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and usef'ul Improvement in Ditching-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,

- reference being had to the annexed drawings,

making part of this specification, in which- 4Figure lis a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal section. Fig. 4t is an elevation ofthe raising-lever; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the pawl for the raising apparatus.l

lFig. 6 is a vertical section, showing the mode The improvements consist in, first, theconstruction of the wheel K, so as to leave open spaces between the bars uniting the flanges; second, in so arranging the driversseat that his weight shall counterbalance that of the plow, Sie.; third, in combining with the anged wheel two revolving belts, between which the earth is elevated when loosened by the plow 5 fourth, in the mode of regulating the depth of the cut, and at the same time changing the set of the plow-point; fifth, in the substitution of the guides R2 for the landsides in common use; sixth, in the mode of regulating the delivery of the earth excavated; seventh, the device for raising the machinery in turning,

. and also in that for raising the entire-machine, except the wheels B; eighth, the use of an adjustable shoe for finishing the ditch to receive drain-tiles; ninth, in so constructing the frame that by folding {it the tread of the wheels may be changed.

` A is the main frame. It has hinged to each side a supplement-al frame, C, formed by two end and two side pieces, and carrying the wheels B. The supplemental frames C are so hinged that they may be folded under the main frame, reversingthe wheels, and changing the width of the track of the machine, so as to be either that of an ordinary wagon, or in-A creased sufficiently to permit the wheels to run outside of the earth thrown from the ditch.

D is the tongue, adjustably attached, 'so thatit maybe removed for convenience in packing the machine. The tongue is attached immediately to the frame E, which supports the operating mechanism, and is hinged to the under side of the main frame at E. This frame may be raised and lowered by means of the cord F, attached to the end of the frame, and the axle G, which is operated in raising and lowering the machine by the lever H, attached to its shaft, which is supported upon the standards G. On the axle is a ratchetwheel, l, actuated by a projection,rH2, on the the earth is loosened and thrown to the sides,

where it is caught by the side wings, L2, and then turned toward the center of the furrow, and upon the upper face of the endless belt M, which revolves with the wheel K, passing around the wheel and under the pulley M3, placed between the mold-boards,and over the pulley M, attached to the-adj ustable arm M.

-which is hinged to the frame E and pressed against the belt and away from the wheel by the tightening-spring M4. Another belt, N, passes around the wheel,f1tting closely against the rods or bars K', and is carried in front of y the wheel above, so as to deliver the earth carried up between the two belts into the slide l?, by which it is directed so as to fall upon the side of the ditch. As the ditcher passes several times along the ditch in opposite directions, the earth will be alternately deposited i on each side of the ditch. The belt N passes over the pulley N. The braces O are notched 0n the edge to receive the hooked end of theV lever O', by which the plow-frame maybe chine.

Q is the drivers seat, placed in rear of the i they plow and frame by means of the rods Q] flanged wheel and supported upon braces, which, pivoted upon the axle ofthe wheel K, extend downward, and are attached to the plow-frame so that the weight of the driver shall nearly or entirely counterbalance the weight of the 4plow and plow-frame.

R is a lever pivoted to the frame in front of theplow and attached to the axles of the wheels It'. By means of this lever and wheel the depth of the cut is regula-ted.

R2 are guides which direct the plow.

The frame having been raised by the lever O', as described, is sustained by a pawl, S, working into the notched brace O. This pawl may be detached by means of the foot-lever S, connected therewith by the rod S. The plow suspended by the lever T, which is pivoted at the elbow to the plowframc, the hinged rod T' heilig adjustably attached to the lever` R in front of the pivot, where it is pivoted to the plow-frame, so that as the plow is raised by the lever, the point of the plow is thrown down, and vice versa, so as to make less draft on the beam-frame when plowing` deep, and to give a better action to the plow when plowing shallow.

The shoe L' is attached to the point of the plow for the purpose of making a round bed for drain-tile when the ditch is finished. It is attached only when needed for this purpose.

Scrapers are attached at suitable points on the frame and other parts of the machine, to scrape oft' the earthadhering to the pulleys over which the belts pass, from the belts themselves, and from the bars uniting the flanges ofthe wheel K.

The slide I is formed in two parts, sliding one over the other, so that the first earth raised may be deposited nearest the wheels, and as the ditch is deepened the slide may be shortened to deposit the earth nearer the ditch.

W' hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The wheel K, when constructed with parallel fianges, united only by bars K', substantially as set forth.

2. So connecting the drivers seat Q with that the weight of the driver and mechanism behind the axle shall counterbalance that placed in front of the axle, substantially in the manner set forth.

3. The combination of the hanged wheel- K with the belts M and N, between which the earth is elevated, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the plow L, wings L, belts M and N, and wheel K, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a flanged wheel, K, with bars K' and intermediate open spaces, with the carryingbclt N, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the lever R, wheel It', plow L, lever T, and rod T', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of the plow with the guides It, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination with the wheel K, the adjustable extension-slide I), substantially as set ing constructed substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In combination with the plow L, the adjustable shoe L', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination of the flanged wheel K, belt M, hinged arm M2, pulley M', and spring M, arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

13. So constructing the main frame that the wheels may, by folding the parts of the frame, be adjusted to a wider or narrower tread, substantially in the manner set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed 1ny name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY C. INGRAHAM.

Vitn esses:

XVM. A. MCKENNEY, J. MCKENNEV. 

